Letters

Rev. 2:1-17

As I read these first three letters to the churches, I see some words that could apply to my life, my time, and my culture. Concerning Ephesus, Jesus commended them on their patient endurance, their bearing up for Jesus' name, and their not growing weary. But they had abandoned their first love.

I am beginning to wonder if something akin to this is happening to believers today. We have endured patiently for many years. We have borne up through wars and financial ruin. Yet, I am afraid our hearts have grown cold. Perhaps we have abandoned our first love, for the sake of prosperity, possessions, and liberal politics and policies. Jesus, our first love, would never condone the wholesale slaughter of unborn babies or the abolishing of the traditional concept of marriage, things that many churches buy into wholeheartedly. Yes, America has lost it's first love, it's foundation in the Bible, and its ethical democracy. But what about individual Christians? Have we cooled so far that we have abandoned our first love. When we read out Bibles, it is a fruitless activity. We we hear of atrocities, what is our response?  This plague of creeping apathy must be stopped. Individually, we must examine our hearts to see if any corners of coldness are thriving and then pour the heat of the gospel and the Spirit right in that spot. It must be dealt with immediately or it spreads without notice. 

Then to Smyrna, the angel of the church wrote that the devil would test them by throwing them into prison. But the angel says to be faithful unto death. Scary words and words we have never experienced in America. But could it be in our future as more and more of our freedoms are disappearing? The war the devil has waged here came on subtly so that now he has such an inroad that he can openly assault and alter our complete way of life. How sad to witness a war being fought with hardly a skirmish! Yet for the individual Christian, this is a wake-up call. Examine your heart and live. Make provision for whatever you need to endure whether, it be fines, prison. or even death.

We must remember the final words of this letter, The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. 

Father,

I ask You to warm my heart today. Pour the heat of the gospel into my life melting any coldness or stiffness that might be hidden there. Help me to be Your vessel to show to all the peoples that Your hand if mighty.

In Jesus name,

Amen